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Lake Mille Lacs sees unexpected drop in walleye numbers

(AP) - The population of walleye in Lake Mille Lacs,
the state's most popular walleye lake, have declined dramatically,
according to surveys by the Department of Natural Resources.

Recent netting surveys produced the fewest pounds of walleye
since 1983, when such surveys began. The unexpected declines could
lead to stricter walleye rules for the ice-fishing season and
possibly next spring.

"It appears from the netting that the population is very low," said Rick Bruesewitz, DNR area fisheries manager in Aitkin. "I
can't say why at this point. We've only had a week to look at the
data, so we need to put it together with other information."

In the survey, fisheries managers caught only 12.8 pounds of
walleyes per net. Last year, it was 31 pounds per net, above the
long-term average of 28.9.

Bruesewitz said the agency safe "threshold" is 18.9 pounds per
net. "We breached that by a fair amount," he said.

So far, overfishing doesn't appear to be the culprit.

One cause might be low production and survival for walleye
hatched in 2002. The hatch from that year could be significant
because those fish are large enough to be caught and kept by
anglers this year.

Bruesewitz said unusually warm water temperatures contributed to
a recent die-off of tullibees, a walleye prey fish that's important
to the health of the fishery. Record warm water temperatures in
June also contributed to a higher mortality rate of walleyes
released by anglers.

DNR officials met recently with the Lake Mille Lacs Fisheries
Input Group, made up of anglers and local business owners, to
discuss potential winter regulations. Currently, anglers can only
keep walleyes between 14 and 16 inches, with one trophy of more
than 28 inches.

Bruesewitz said the group favored a rule that would allow
anglers to keep walleyes smaller than 20 inches, with one larger
than 28. The limit per angler would stay at four fish. Bruesewitz
said other options are under consideration, including keeping the
current size limits. A decision is expected soon.